Masterton amateur Ben Campbell will take a three-shot lead into today's final round of the Tauranga Open.
Campbell, runner-up in the Australian amateur championship, fired a six-under par 64 in the third round yesterday to move to 15-under par in the opening Charles Tour event at Tauranga Golf Club.
Overnight
leader Andrew Green was cruising with a five-shot lead before a five-over par eight at the ninth hole derailed his day, finishing with a three-over 73 to drop to second.
Defending champion Michael Hendry shot a four-under par 66 to move to third place on 10-under along with fellow-Auckland professional Richard Lee, who could not match his heroics from Friday - when he carded a 59 - firing a two-over 72 yesterday.
Amateur international Ryan Fox of Auckland shot his third consecutive three-under 67 to be in a share of fifth place with professionals Andy Gang of Auckland (67) and Grant Moorhead of Taranaki (68).
A cool breeze and rain replaced the sunny conditions.
Green, a Wellington professional, appeared to have things under control as he picked up three early birdies.
At the par-three ninth hole he hit his tee shot out of bounds and his second ball into the bunker, where his caddy (and father) had inadvertently raked the bunker before Green had played his shot. This incurred a two-shot penalty and he finished with an eight.
Campbell made a fast start to turn five-under par and mixed two further birdies with a solitary dropped shot coming home for his 64.
"I didn't find the conditions tougher - just normal Wellington conditions, really," Campbell said. "I am just going to treat it like going out for another round tomorrow. I played in the final at the Australian Amateur so I am used to that pressure a bit ."
The women's contest was a one-horse race. Northland's Caroline Bon fired her third straight sub-par round to claim her first Charles Tour title in the 54-hole contest.
- NZPA
